US 11,672,741 B2Granted

Pacifier

AssigneeJohn J. Davis

InventorsJohn J. Davis, Justin H. Smart, Richard L. D'Aloisio

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Uni-molded pacifier includes nipple, stem, shield and typically a handle. The stem includes a round surface, as in classically designed pacifiers, or may be orthodontically shaped, extending proximally and longitudinally into a base which in turn is blended into a shield. Change in the base to stem contact angle lowers the applied force to the stem as compared to traditional pacifier stems and bases. The decrease in applied force to the stem equates to less pressure needed to compress the stem thru sucking activity. The shield, in this uni-molded pacifier, also has an increase in the area and mass of the center surface. This decreases diameter of the posterior mouth of the shield opening to a lumen of the base and stem which has an added benefit to make it more difficult for debris to enter the lumen. If desired there is no posterior mouth.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A pacifier comprising:

a shield, a base, and a nipple,
the nipple comprising a stem for insertion into an infant's mouth and comprising a closed distal end, the stem having longitudinal sidewalls,
the shield, the base, and the nipple being longitudinally aligned,
the base extending longitudinally from the shield,
the nipple extending longitudinally from the base;
the base having a top wall, the top wall of the base having a slope line which intersects a longitudinal axis of the stem at an angle β (beta) of 55 to 120 degrees,
wherein the nipple, base, and shield define a hollow lumen comprising a nipple portion of the lumen, a base portion of the lumen, and a shield portion of the lumen,
further comprising a hollow elongated handle having continuous sidewalls defining a handle lumen having a continuous perimeter, the hollow elongated handle extending posteriorly from the shield, wherein the hollow elongated handle is integral with the shield, the hollow elongated handle having an open posterior end;
wherein the handle, the shield, the base, and the nipple are a uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece,
wherein the base of the uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece defines a posterior pacifier mouth having a mouth diameter smaller than an internal diameter of the base portion of the lumen anterior to the posterior pacifier mouth.

7 more elements

A pacifier comprising

a shield, a base, and a nipple,
wherein the nipple extends longitudinally from the base,
wherein the base extends longitudinally from the shield,
wherein the base extends transversely from the nipple,
wherein the nipple, the base, and the shield define a hollow lumen comprising a nipple portion of the lumen, a base portion of the lumen, and a shield portion of the lumen,
wherein the shield, the base, and the nipple are a uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece,
wherein internal surface of the base of the uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece defines the base portion of the lumen,
wherein the shield has a posterior surface, and
wherein an internal surface of the base of the uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece defines a posterior pacifier mouth posterior to the nipple, the posterior pacifier mouth having a mouth diameter defined by the internal surface of the base of the uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece smaller than a largest transverse dimension of the internal surface of the base of the uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece,
wherein the base portion of the lumen tapers posteriorly from the largest transverse dimension to the mouth diameter of the posterior pacifier mouth.

7 more elements

A pacifier comprising a shield and a nipple and optionally a base, wherein the nipple and the shield define a hollow lumen comprising a nipple portion of the lumen and a shield portion of the lumen and, if the optional base is present, a base portion of the lumen,

wherein the nipple extends longitudinally from the shield or if the optional base is present the nipple extends longitudinally from the base,
wherein if the optional base is present the base extends longitudinally from the shield,
wherein the nipple portion of the lumen defines internal surface of the nipple,
further comprising a hollow elongated handle having continuous sidewalls defining a handle portion of the hollow lumen, wherein the continuous sidewalls have a continuous perimeter, wherein the hollow elongated handle extends posteriorly from the shield, wherein the hollow elongated handle is integral with the shield,
wherein the nipple has a neck portion and a distal head portion, wherein the nipple portion of the lumen has a nipple neck portion of the lumen and a nipple distal head portion of the lumen,
wherein the pacifier defines a posterior pacifier mouth that is posterior to the nipple, wherein a mouth diameter of the posterior pacifier mouth is smaller than a largest transverse dimension of an internal surface of the nipple neck portion of the lumen,
wherein the handle portion of the hollow lumen is aligned with the posterior pacifier mouth, wherein the hollow elongated handle has an open posterior end,
wherein the shield, nipple, and optional base are integral as a single part body that is a uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece,
wherein an inner surface of the shield or the base of the uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece defines the posterior pacifier mouth, wherein the uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece defines the base portion of the lumen or the shield portion of the lumen to taper posteriorly from a largest transverse dimension of the base portion of the lumen or the shield portion of the lumen to the mouth diameter of the posterior pacifier mouth.

6 more elements

A pacifier comprising

a shield and a nipple and optionally a base, wherein the nipple has a posterior neck portion and a distal head end portion, wherein the nipple and the shield define a hollow lumen comprising a nipple portion of the lumen and a shield portion of the lumen and, if the optional base is present, a base portion of the lumen,
wherein the nipple extends longitudinally from the shield or if the optional base is present the nipple extends longitudinally from the base,
wherein if the optional base is present the base extends longitudinally from the shield,
wherein the nipple portion of the lumen defines an internal surface of the nipple,
wherein the shield, the nipple, and the optional base are integral as a single part body that is a uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece,
further comprising a handle which extends posteriorly from the shield, wherein the handle is integral with the shield,
wherein the pacifier uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece defines a posterior pacifier mouth posterior to the nipple, the posterior pacifier mouth having a mouth diameter smaller than a largest transverse dimension of an internal surface of the posterior neck portion of the nipple, wherein the nipple has a closed nipple distal end,
wherein inner surface of the shield or the base of the uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece defines the pacifier mouth, wherein the uni-molded pacifier single unitary piece defines the base portion of the lumen or the shield portion of the lumen to taper posteriorly from a largest transverse dimension of the base portion of the lumen or the shield portion of the lumen to the mouth diameter of the posterior pacifier mouth.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/577,494Filed 20 Sep 2019 · continuation in part
Priority: 27 Mar 2017
Published: US 2020/0009019 A19 Jan 2020
Granted: 13 Jun 2023
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

A61J 17/001
Baby-comforters; Teething rings: baby-comforters
A61J 17/113
Details; Accessories therefor: protective covers therefor, e.g. for protecting during disuse
A61J 17/107
Details; Accessories therefor: having specific orthodontic properties
A61J
Containers specially adapted for medical or pharmaceutical purposes

Family

Application62/477,120Us provisional application · filed 27 Mar 2017
Application62/519,479Us provisional application · filed 14 Jun 2017
Application62/645,524Us provisional application · filed 20 Mar 2018
PCT/US2018/024270Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 26 Mar 2018
US 2020/0009019 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Jan 2020
US 11,672,741 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.